Sheraton Grand: Low prices, great location

The Sheraton Grand Sacramento Hotel in Sacramento. Photos for Under Covers, Undercovers.

The Sheraton Grand Sacramento Hotel in Sacramento. Photos for Under Covers, Undercovers.

Photo: Spud Hilton, The Chronicle

Photo: Spud Hilton, The Chronicle

Image
1of/3

Caption

Close

Image 1 of 3

The Sheraton Grand Sacramento Hotel in Sacramento. Photos for Under Covers, Undercovers.

The Sheraton Grand Sacramento Hotel in Sacramento. Photos for Under Covers, Undercovers.

Photo: Spud Hilton, The Chronicle

Sheraton Grand: Low prices, great location

1 / 3

Back to Gallery

Sheraton Grand Quite simply, business and convention hotels rarely make any top 10 lists of "Really Cool Places," and the Sheraton Grand isn't likely to shatter that trend any time soon. There is such a thing, however, as chic by association. The Sheraton Grand is comfortable, with nice extras, cool gadgets and an upscale vibe, but the real attractions here are proximity and price: It's blocks from Sacramento's burgeoning, trendy Midtown district, where dozens of stylish, of-the-moment restaurants, clubs and shops have popped up, and, because it's a business hotel, a basic room on the weekend is half the price of a weekday. It isn't so much the ends as it is the means - an affordable, comfortable means with flat-screen TV.

Comfort zone

The queen-size bed (a Sheraton Sweet Sleeper) was about 9.5 on the fluffiness scale, with a cushy mattress top, feather duvet and choice of six pillows, and was still plenty firm even after I sank in up to my ears. The decor is contemporary and refined (again, geared toward business travelers), but nifty touches included the overstuffed chair and ottoman, an oversize desk and a padded and pillowed bench-high nook in the window.

Bath and beyond

The bathroom was roomy but generally low frills, with the basics, including a shower/tub and lots of counter space.

Geared up

The Jumbotron (42-inch flat-screen plasma television) that is becoming standard was even more attractive with the data port box below it - mostly geared toward playing video games but also perfect for hooking up a laptop or video iPod (you supply the cord) for 42 inches of big-screen goodness. Rooms have wired high-speed Internet (extra charge).

Grounds for approval

The lobby, banquet facilities, restaurants and bar are built into the restored Public Market Building, a local landmark. The cafes, bar and restaurants on the grounds are convenient, but better and cheaper joints are a few blocks away. There is a pool (but no hot tub) and a 24-hour fitness center.

In the vicinity

The hotel is on J Street (downtown Sacramento's main drag), cuddled up close to the Convention Center and a block or so from Capitol Park. A couple of great brew pubs (Pyramid Alehouse Brewery on K Street, Brew It Up! Personal Brewery & Grill on 14th and H streets) are within staggering distance, but the real hot spots are west a few blocks, along L Street (from 15th to 18th). Don't miss Zocalo (for dining and nightlife) at 18th and L Street, as well as Dragonfly next door and Paisanos across the street. (For more, go to www.midtowngrid.com.)

Good to know

Nearby portions of J Street toward the river can be a bit dodgy at night (even the liquor store has a guard), but most of what you want is in the other direction or on the nearest few blocks of the K Street pedestrian mall.

Highs and lows

The reality of the times is that hotels love to charge for extras (self-parking across the street was $13 per day), and the bar is upscale (translation: overpriced), but the blossoming Midtown area has great attractions and almost no lodging, making this place (on the weekends, anyway) a great base camp at a bargain.